Scripture Readings: Amos 7:10-17 | Amos 5:21-24

What happens when faith gets too close to political power, and sacred language is used to shield rulers from accountability?

In Part 1 of our four-part series, Faith Was Never Supposed to Be Silent, we examine the ancient confrontation between the prophet Amos and Amaziah, the royal priest of Bethel. When Amos spoke out against systemic corruption and the mistreatment of the poor, Amaziah tried to silence him, declaring the temple to be "the King’s sanctuary and a temple of the kingdom". Somewhere along the way, the house of God had been co-opted to serve the interests of the crown.

Throughout history, politicians and leaders of all stripes have reached for the Bible, not necessarily to submit to its moral vision, but to borrow its sacred authority. But as Amos boldly proclaimed in Amos 5, God rejects performative worship that remains comfortable with injustice: "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

Join us as we explore:

• The "King’s Sanctuary" vs. God’s House: How religious institutions risk losing their soul when they trade prophetic truth-telling for political access and cultural influence.

• Guidance vs. Endorsement: Discerning the critical difference between political leaders genuinely asking for God’s guidance and weaponizing God’s name to claim divine endorsement.

• Prophetic Preaching vs. Partisan Preaching: Why a truly biblical faith refuses to become campaign property for any party, holding leaders on the left and the right accountable to the standard of justice and human dignity.

• Righteousness as Public Justice: Moving past privatized piety to reclaim the Hebrew scriptures' definition of righteousness as relational equity, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring people are treated with dignity.

• A Faith That Cannot Be Captured: Learning how to participate passionately in public life and vote with our values without surrendering our conscience or confusing any nation with the Kingdom of God.

The church does not belong to any empire, administration, or political party—we belong to God. Let us keep our faith free, our worship honest, and our voices clear as we seek the common good of all our neighbors.